Canberra Glassworks art on show to the world

A major glass artwork being created in Canberra will go on display in China this year before settling in to its permanent home at the new Women’s and Children’s hospital to be built on the Canberra Hospital campus, Acting Chief Minister, Katy Gallagher MLA announced today.

Internationally-recognised Australian artist Warren Langley has been joined by skilled craftspeople at the Canberra Glassworks to create the large-scale artwork which will go on display during the Shanghai World Expo 2010.

“This artwork has been commissioned by the ACT Government and will be an impressive backdrop for over 200 business events which will be held in the Australian Pavilion during the Expo from May to October 2010,” Ms Gallagher said.

“The glass art being produced here in Canberra will be the most significant piece of artwork in terms of scale to be on show in the Australian Pavilion at the World Expo - a major coup for the ACT and our wonderful glass art community.

“This presents an opportunity to showcase the undisputed quality of Canberra Glassworks’ production skills on the world stage,” she said.

Warren Langley’s work, entitled ‘Microscopia’, will be a major work created in glass and light. He will employ an innovative process using linear Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) to mix colours and to “paint” with light, creating arresting and dynamic visual effects.

The artwork, measuring 6m x 3m, will travel to China as part of the ACT’s contribution to the Australian Pavilion during the Shanghai World Expo 2010 - the biggest World Expo ever held.

“The glass elements of the work will be made at the Canberra Glassworks, with two local glassmakers employed during the production period,” Ms Gallagher said.

“Warren Langley is planning to work in the Glassworks this week, affording Canberrans with a rare opportunity to see such a highly-acclaimed artist at work.

“Visitors to the Canberra Glassworks between now and February will be able to see the work being made and it will be fully assembled for viewing prior to its transportation to Shanghai.”

Ms Gallagher said that at the conclusion of the Expo, the work would be returned to Canberra to be displayed permanently in the new Women’s and Children’s Hospital at the Canberra Hospital. Work is expected to begin on the hospital in the coming months.

Mr Langley is working closely with the architects and ACT Health to ensure that the space will meet the requirements of the work. He said Microscopia would be of high resonance and bring global respect to the Canberra Glassworks and its facilities.

“I am proud to have had a role in taking Australian glass to the world and I think it’s great that it is coming back to the Canberra Hospital,” Mr Langley said.

“I am excited by the opportunity to provide this major artwork to Canberrans as a legacy from this significant world event.”

Commissioner-General of the Australian Pavilion, Lyndall Sachs said she was delighted that the Canberra Glassworks had been commissioned to create such a spectacular focus for the VIP reception area.

“This commitment from the ACT Government highlights the themes of the Pavilion of better city, better life by reflecting the importance of art in contemporary cities,” Ms Sachs said.

At the 2005 World Expo in Aichi, Japan, more than 3.5 million people visited Australia’s award-winning pavilion, and more are tipped to visit this year’s bold, sculptural form which acknowledges our ancient landscape while demonstrating in a visually striking way the sophistication of modern urban design in Australia.

The ACT’s sponsorship provides a unique opportunity to present and brand Canberra to a daily audience of around 40,000 people who will access the Australian Pavilion each day of the 6 month Expo, with more than 7 million people expected to visit the Pavilion over the Expo’s duration.

Further information about the ACT Government’s public art collection can be found on the artsACT website www.arts.act.gov.au

10 January 2010